Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

>>Chair DiCeglie: WELCOME TO SENATE BUILDING ROOM 110 A.K.A. THE IGLOO. THE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL NOW COME TO ORDER. BROOKE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >>Sen. Arrington: >>Sen. Avila: HERE. >>Sen. Bernard: HERE. >>Sen. Bracy Davis: HERE. >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Leek: >>Sen. Martin: >>Sen. Smith: >>Sen. Truenow: >>Sen. Wright: >>Vice Chair Polsky: >>Chair DiCeglie: HERE. >> A QUORUM IS PRESENT. >>Chair DiCeglie: SILENCE ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES, ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE AN APPEARANCE FORM AND HAND IT TO A MEMBER OF THE SERGEANTS OFFICE. SHOULD YOU WAIVE YOUR SPEAKING TIME YOUR POSITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN COMMITTEE MEETING RECORDS, WE HAVE 10 BILLS TODAY SEE WE ARE GOING TO GET STARTED, GO TO TAB NUMBER 10 WHICH IS SENATE BILL 594 ON LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLANS BY OUR GREAT FRIEND SENATOR BURTON, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL. >>Sen. Burton: THANK YOU CHAIR AND GOOD MORNING COMMITTEE. AS I'M SURE YOU ARE ALL AWARE WE HAVE MANY FLORIDIANS WHO LIVED IN MOBILE HOME PARKS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE. I WILL SAY, MY HOME COUNTY AS WELL AS MAYBE SEN. ARRINGTON'S HOME COUNTIES AND OTHERS, YOUR COUNTY TOO SIR? HAVE MANY MOBILE HOME PARKS AND ALL THESE CONSTITUENTS IN THESE COMMUNITIES ON FIXED INCOMES, THEY ARE CURRENTLY INELIGIBLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR ALSO FOR, WHICH IS THE PART THEY PAY FOR, NOT UNUSUAL BUT IT IS A UNIQUE HOUSING SITUATION. THEY OWN THEIR HOME BUT THEY RENT THERE A LOT SO WHAT THIS BILL WILL DO IS ALLOW THEM TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE WHICH WE HAVE WITHIN STATE STATUTE. ON THE OWNERSHIP SIDE SHOULD THEY NEED REPAIRS OR REHABILITATION TO THEIR HOME THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE FUNDS. THERE IS LIMITED TIME SO THEY COULD ONLY HAVE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE SIX MONTHS SO IT IS INTENDED LIKE ALL OUR PLANS ARE TO BE A BRIDGE, IF YOU WANT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED THAT HELP, THESE ARE FLORIDIANS IN POSITIONS MUCH LIKE OTHER FLORIDIANS WHO NEED HELP WHO OWN THEIR HOMES OR RENT AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE COULD INCLUDE THOSE FUNDS MOVING FORWARD AND THAT'S WHAT THE BILL DOES. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY QUESTIONS, SEEING NONE WE HAVE APPEARANCE FORMS. SEAN JONES WITH AARP. GOOD MORNING, WAIVING IN SUPPORT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. NANCY STEWART MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS OF FLORIDA INC. GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. SENATORS. MY NAME IS NANCY STEWART AND I REPRESENT THE FEDERATION OF MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNERS OF FLORIDA, YOU KNOW THEM AS FM OLD AND I CAN CERTAINLY NOT ADD ANYTHING TO SENATOR BURTON'S EXCELLENT DESCRIPTION OF THE BILL BUT I MUST SAY THIS. NONE OF US INTEND TO OUTLIVE THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WE'VE MADE FOR OURSELVES INTO THE FUTURE THAT IS HAPPENING, IT DOES HAPPEN AND THIS BILL WILL HELP AS SENATOR BURTON HAS SAID CREATE A BRIDGE HOPEFULLY TO LET SOME OF THESE WHO NEED HELP THE MOST REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES. AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WILL ASSIST SO MANY PEOPLE AND EQUALIZE THE PLAYING FIELD SO HOMEOWNERS ARE TREATED AS HOMEOWNERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>Chair DiCeglie: THAT CONCLUDES OUR APPEARANCE FORMS, ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL, SENATOR RIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU, SENATOR I REALLY LIKE THIS BILL. YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE IS WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY THAT LIVE IN MANUFACTURED HOMES IN PARKS THAT HAVE BEEN NOW SOLD TO LARGE INVESTMENT GROUPS WHO HAVE SOMETIMES TRIPLED THE RENT AND IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING FOR THEM WE WILL HAVE MANY FORMER MOBILE HOME OWNERS AND IT'S TIME TO ACT NOW. I HAVE PEOPLE THAT ASK ME WHAT YOU CAN DO AND I SAY WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT RENTS THEY CHARGE BUT THERE'S MAYBE SOMETHING AND I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SO I WILL BE UP ON YOUR BILL TODAY. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU SENATOR, ANY FURTHER DEBATE. SEN. ARRINGTON YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN DEBATE. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AND YOU SAID IT PERFECTLY, THIS WILL HELP SO MANY OF OUR SENIORS AND AS SENATOR BURTON SAID IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE THEY OWN THE MOBILE HOME BUT PENDING THE LOT FEE, THAT FEE CAN INCREASE AND THEY CAN GET TRAPPED IN THESE HOMES SPENDING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE LOT FEES AND KEEP THE HOMES SO IT IS A FANTASTIC BILL, HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT AGAIN AND HOPE WE GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THIS YEAR. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER DEBATE? SENATOR BURTON THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT BILL. I HAVE A LOT OF MOBILE HOME PROPERTIES IN PINELLAS COUNTY AND THE THING THE SESSION SHOULD BE AFFORDABILITY THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT. HOUSING HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR MANY FLORIDIANS AND I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THIS AREA FOR THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF PROPERTY OWNERS SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS BILL FORWARD AND WITH THAT YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE ON THIS GREAT BILL. >>Sen. Burton: I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS MADE AND I HOPE WE HAVE EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE COMMITTEE'S FAVORABLE SUPPORT OF THIS GOOD BILL. >>Chair DiCeglie: CALLED RULE ON SENATE BILL 594. >>Sen. Arrington: YES. >>Sen. Avila: >>Sen. Bernard: >>Sen. Bracy Davis: YES. >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Leek: >>Sen. Martin: >>Sen. Mayfield: >>Sen. McClain: >>Sen. Smith: >>Sen. Truenow: >>Sen. Wright: >>Vice Chair Polsky: >>Chair DiCeglie: YES, BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL 594 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY, THANK YOU SENATOR. >>Sen. Burton: THANK YOU. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATORS WE NOW GO TO TAB NUMBER SIX. WHICH IS MONTH ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS, 488 BY SENATOR MASSULLO, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL. >>Sen. Massullo: THANK YOU CHAIR DICEGLIE, MEMBERS SB 488 IS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES AGENCY PACKAGE AND I LIKE THESE TYPES OF BILLS BECAUSE THEY BRING INTO VIEW THE FACT THAT WE AS A LEGISLATURE ARE TASKED WITH KEEPING OUR AGENCIES AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE AND IT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TO US CHANGES TO MAKE THEIR JOBS BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE WE END THEY SERVE. THIS BILL BRINGS FLORIDA IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FUEL TAX ASSOCIATION, THE ACRONYM IS THE IFTA, SECTIONS THAT ADHERE TO IFTA FOR MOTOR FUELS AND AUTHORIZES PRIVATE LICENSE PLATE AGENCIES FOR IFTA AND ALLOWS ONLINE FILING WITH IFTA TAX RETURNS AND APPLIES PENALTIES FOR MISUSE. IT ALSO INCREASES DAMAGES RESULTING FROM A CRASH THAT NEED TO BE REPORTED FROM $500 CURRENTLY IN STATUTE TO $2000 TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASED COST OF WHAT IT IS TODAY TO REPAIR VEHICLES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO APPLICATION PROCESSES FOR MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND EXPAND THE TYPE OF TRANSACTIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH DSS MVE MAY USE EMAIL IN LIEU OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE TO COMMUNICATE WITH CUSTOMERS. THERE IS ALSO A COMPANION PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR THOSE EMAILS I WILL EXPLAIN IN THE NEXT BILL AND LASTLY UPDATES TAB VEHICLE COMPLIANCE TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT IS CURRENTLY THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS AND THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS THE BILL. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU SENATOR, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL, SEEING NONE WE WILL GO TO APPEARANCE FORMS, WILLIAM SMITH WITH THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL CHAPTER OF THE FLORIDA PBA. HE'S WAIVING IN SUPPORT. THAT CONCLUDES OUR APPEARANCE FORMS, ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL? SEN. MASSULLO YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >>Sen. Massullo: I WILL WAIVE CLOSE. >>Chair DiCeglie: CALLED THE ROLE ON SENATE BILL 488. >>Sen. Arrington: YES. >>Sen. Avila: >>Sen. Bernard: >>Sen. Bracy Davis: YES. >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Leek: >>Sen. Martin: >>Sen. Mayfield: >>Sen. McClain: >>Sen. Smith: >>Sen. Truenow: >>Sen. Wright: >>Vice Chair Polsky: >>Chair DiCeglie: YES, BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL 488 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY AND NOW SENATORS WE GO TO TAB SEVEN SENATE BILL 490 ON PUBLIC RECORDS EMAIL ADDRESSES COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY FOR PROVIDING RENEWAL NOTICES BY SEN. MASSULLO, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL. >>Sen. Massullo: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. SB 490 IS THE PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR THOSE SAME EMAILS I DESCRIBED IN 488 AND I WILL ASK FOR ALL YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT. THIS IS A PUBLIC EXIT RECORDS EXEMPTION AND I'LL REMIND THE MEMBERS IT REQUIRES 2/3 VOTE OF THE BODY WHETHER IT BE THE COMMITTEE OR THE MAIN BODY ON THE FLOOR SO IF YOU ARE ON THE FENCE PLEASE JUMP ON MY SIDE. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU SENATOR, WELL DONE, QUESTIONS ON THE BILL RIB QUESTIONS FOR THE SENATOR, SEEING NONE ANY APPEARANCE FORMS, ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSED. PLEASE CALL THE RULE ON SENATE BILL 490. >>Sen. Arrington: >>Sen. Avila: >>Sen. Bernard: >>Sen. Bracy Davis: >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Leek: >>Sen. Martin: >>Sen. Mayfield: >>Sen. McClain: >>Sen. Smith: >>Sen. Truenow: >>Sen. Wright: >>Vice Chair Polsky: >>Chair DiCeglie: YES, BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL 490 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY. >> THANK YOU MEMBERS, HAVE A WONDERFUL HUMP DAY. >> Chair DiCeglie: SENATORS WE WILL GO TO TAB NUMBER ONE. SENATE BILL, I'M SORRY. DID NOT SEE YOU THERE SENATOR, TAB NUMBER TWO, I THINK THAT'S TAB NUMBER TWO. WE ARE SHIFTING GEARS HERE. SENATE BILL 246 ON SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATES, ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP, UFC. BY SEN. GRUTERS BUT WE HAVE SENATOR RODRIGUEZ TO EXPLAIN THE BILL, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, THE UFC IS THE PHILANTHROPIC ARM OF THE UFC WHICH SEEKS TO SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITIES AND NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE UFC POSTEVENT RED SINCE ITS INCEPTION THE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH 148 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD SUCH AS THE DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, IWCA, POLICE AT THE LEGS ATHLETIC LEAGUE, MOFFITT CANCER CENTER IN FLORIDA, ADVENTIST HEALTH AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE UFC FOUNDATION IS PROPOSING CREATION OF A SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE WHICH PROCEEDS FROM THIS WOULD BASICALLY SUPPORT THE AFOREMENTIONED PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND THAT IS THE BILL. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU SENATOR, QUESTIONS ON THE BILL, VICE CHAIR POLSKY YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>Vice Chair Polsky: UNFORTUNATELY I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF SEN. GRUTERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM BUT THEY UFC FOUNDATION IS WORKING AT THE BOTTOM SO HOW DO WE KNOW THOSE MONIES WILL BE SPENT HERE. >>Sen. Rodriguez: THANK YOU SENATOR POLSKY FOR THAT GREAT QUESTION. LIKE ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THEY HAVE ACCOUNTING METHODS THAT WOULD SUPPORT WHERE THE MONEY IS BEING USED AND HOW THE MONEY IS COMING IN SO I DON'T THINK THAT FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY WILL BE AN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LOCATED IN ANOTHER STATE. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. ARRINGTON IN QUESTIONS. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. ALONG THE SAME LINES DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER FLORIDA PLATES THAT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN OTHER STATES OR DO WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM TO BE FLORIDA-BASED. >>Chair DiCeglie: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>Sen. Rodriguez: I CAN GET THAT LIST, I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR BUT I CAN FIND THAT AND GET IT TO YOU. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ONE ONTO OUR APPEARANCE FORMS, CARLOS SAN JOSE REPRESENTING MIAMI-DADE TAX COLLECTOR IS WAIVING IN SUPPORT. SENATORS, ANY DEBATE ON THE BILL, VICE CHAIR POLSKY IN DEBATE. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU. I KNOW IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL ABOUT THESE LICENSE PLATES AND I KNOW THEY HAVE TO GET THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR IT TO EVEN BE AN ISSUE BUT I TOOK TIME TO LOOK AT OTHER PLATES WE HAVE AND I PERSONALLY DID A PLATE FOR A CANCER CHARITY THAT'S LOCAL. WE HAVE TWO OTHERS TODAY THAT ARE SEEMINGLY WORTHY CHARITABLE OR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES. LOOKING THROUGH WHAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE MANY FOR OUR LOCAL COLLEGES, SOME OUT-OF-STATE BUT WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF LUNG ALUMNI WHO LIVE HERE, WE HAVE FOR THE HISTORICALLY BLACK FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES WE HAVE MANY ENVIRONMENTAL, MANY CHARITABLE ONES. I JUST DON'T THINK THIS IS THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION, THE FOUR-PROFIT WRESTLING, NATIONAL WRESTLING LEAGUE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT SHOULD BE GETTING AN ESTEEMED PLAY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A FOUNDATION, THAT'S GREAT BUT IT'S JUST NOT FLORIDA-BASED. THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE REASON I'LL SPELL OUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WE ARE DOING THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS THE PRESIDENT'S FAVORITE SPORT AND HE'S SO CLOSE WITH THEM AND THE PERSON WHO RUNS IT I THINK OR HER FAMILY IS THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION SO JUST LIKE NAMING THE AIRPORT IN PALM BEACH AFTER THEM I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO THINGS TO BEND OVER TO MAKE THE PRESIDENT HAPPY WITH THE PLATE SUCH AS THIS. IT'S NOT WHAT THIS WAS DESIGNED FOR, IT'S DESIGNED FOR CHARITIES, ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, COLLEGES AND THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA SO I KNOW IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN MY POSITION I WILL BE VOTING DOWN AND IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE WE USE THESE YOU KNOW, ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BILLS TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE A POLITICAL PURPOSE SO THANK YOU. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER DEBATE, SEEING NONE SENATOR RODRIGUEZ YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE ON THE BILL. >>Sen. Rodriguez: I WILL KEEP MY CLOSING BRIEF BUT TO ADDRESS THE THINGS SENATOR POLSKY MENTIONED WE HAVE LICENSE PLATES FOR OTHER SPORTING EVENTS AND OTHER SPORTING TEAMS AND WHATNOT SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING POLITICAL. IT IS IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SUPPORT IF THEY CAN AND THE MINIMUM SALES REQUIREMENT HAS NOT BEEN MET BY THE END OF THE 24 MONTH PRESALE PERIOD THE DHS MV WILKIN DISCONTINUED THE PLATE AND ISSUANCE OF PRESALE VOUCHERS SO WE WILL SEE HOW IT GOES AND HOPEFULLY GET TO THEIR MINIMUM REQUIREMENT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. >>Chair DiCeglie: PLEASE CALL THE RULE ON SENATE BILL 246. >>Sen. Arrington: NO. >>Sen. Avila: YES. >>Sen. Bernard: YES. >>Sen. Bracy Davis: NO. >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Leek: >>Sen. Martin: >>Sen. Mayfield: >>Sen. McClain: >>Sen. Smith: >>Sen. Truenow: >>Sen. Wright: >>Vice Chair Polsky: >>Chair DiCeglie: YES. BUYER VOTE SENATE BILL 246 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY, THANK YOU SENATOR. NOW WE ARE GOING TO GO TO TAB ONE, SENATE BILL 216 ON VERIFICATION OF REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY BY OUR OWN SEN. MCCLAIN, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT SENATE BILL 216. AS RECENTLY AS JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO THE REPORTED NUMBER BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOW THERE ARE 460, AROUND 450, 460 JOB OPENINGS IN FLORIDA AND 4000 PEOPLE ON FLORIDA UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS. I CHECKED THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND THEY ARE ABOUT THE SAME, VERY CLOSE TO BEING THE SAME NUMBER AND WITH THAT IN MIND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND BUSINESSES PAY OF THE ONES THAT PAY THE TAX IF YOU WILL FOR UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS WHICH ULTIMATELY COULD LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES FOR ALL OF US IF THERE'S FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE AROUND UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS SO WITH THAT IN MIND THE SENATE BILL 216 WOULD DISQUALIFY SOMEONE FROM REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IF THEY FAILED TO CONTACT THE FIVE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS A WEEK, APPEAR ON THREE OR MORE INTERVIEWS WITHOUT FINDING AN EMPLOYER OR FAILED TO RETURN TO WORK BY A FORMER EMPLOYER, REPORT REQUIRES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO VERIFY ELIGIBILITY BY MAKING SURE THE INDIVIDUAL IS WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE, VERIFY IMMIGRATION STATUS AND THIS WILL BE DONE EVERY TWO WEEKS. MAKE SURE THEY ARE LIVING, NOT IN JAIL AND DO NOT ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER JOB SOMEWHERE ELSE AND REQUIRES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO SHARE INFORMATION RELATED TO FRAUDULENT CLAIMS WITH US DEPARTMENTS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION IF NEED BE AND REQUIRES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO PUBLISH ACTIVITY AROUND FRAUDULENT CLAIMS EACH YEAR AND THAT IS THE BILL MR. CHAIR. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL. SEN. ARRINGTON. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON SEN. MCCLAIN. JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS, YOU MENTIONED THE TWO WEEKS CHECKING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING, HAVE WE FOUND THAT IS AN ISSUE OR DO WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT EVERY TWO WEEKS, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FRAUD WITH PEOPLE SAYING THEY ARE ALIVE. >>Sen. McClain: IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS TO SAY HEY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO CHECK IF THEY ARE LIVING. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WE ALREADY HAVE LOW UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND MOST OF US HERE DURING THE PANDEMIC REMEMBER HOW THE SYSTEM WAS AND THERE'S A LOT OF BREAKDOWN, THE GOVERNOR HAD SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HURDLES. IS THIS WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN A SYSTEM TO GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED OR WHAT THEY ARE DUE? >>Sen. McClain: AND FOR STRUCTURALLY WE CHANGE THE SYSTEM, ALL WE ARE SAYING THERE ARE MORE JOBS AVAILABLE THAN THERE ARE PEOPLE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS THEY GO OUT AND CONTACT THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO AND IF THEY HAVE A REASON FOR NOT MAKING IT, THEY CAN MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THAT PERSON. >>Chair DiCeglie: VICE CHAIR, ANY QUESTIONS. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR OPENING THAT IF THEY ARE CALLED BACK TO WORK THEY HAVE TO GO OTHERWISE THEY LOSE BENEFITS. WHAT IF THEY WERE FIRED IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND THEN SUDDENLY THE COMPANY REALIZES THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE SO THE PERSON IS SUPPOSED TO GO BACK AFTER THEY WERE FIRED? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THERE ARE ALREADY THINGS IN STATUTE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SOMEONE TO SAY IT WAS A HOSTILE WORKPLACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >>Chair DiCeglie: VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >>Vice Chair Polsky: HOW WOULD THAT WORK, TALK TO SOMEONE AND EXPLAIN? SIMILARLY IF THEY MISSED A GOOD COST FOR SOMEONE TO MISS A JOB INTERVIEW HOW IS ALL THAT EXPLAINED TO SOMEONE AT THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THEIR BENEFITS CONTINUE. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. IT IS ALREADY IN THE STATUTE, ALREADY BEING DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE THINGS HAPPEN SO HISTORICALLY THAT'S BEEN DONE. >>Chair DiCeglie: VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >>Vice Chair Polsky: I GET CALLS IN MY OFFICE ABOUT DIFFICULTIES WITH THE SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT IN THE CRUNCH WE WERE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC SO IT'S STILL NOT WORKING REALLY WELL. SO NOW YOU HAVE TO CHECK IN EVERY TWO WEEKS AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE SUBJECTIVE DECISION-MAKING ABOUT WHETHER YOU HAD A GOOD COST TO MISS AN INTERVIEW OR CALL BACK TO YOUR JOB OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE. HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THESE INCREASING REQUESTS AND TIME FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE DEPARTMENT? >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THOSE THINGS ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO REPORT ON A REGULAR BASIS, ALL WE'RE DOING IS MOVING THAT REPORTING PERIOD 2 WEEKS. >>Chair DiCeglie: VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU, HAS THE DEPARTMENT AGREED TO THESE CHANGES, IS THIS SOMETHING THEY ARE LOOKING TO DO. >>Sen. McClain: I HAVE NOT HAD DIRECT ACCOUNT CONTACT, MY COUNTERPART AT THAT CONVERSATION AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT THIS WOULD BE ONEROUS TO THEM GIVEN WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING. >>Chair DiCeglie: VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU, I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE, DID THE THE DEPARTMENT GIVE YOU THAT DATA ON THE $32 BILLION IN FRAUD ATTEMPTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS? >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THAT NUMBER WAS GIVEN BY MY COUNTERPART IN THE HOUSE. IT HAS NOT BEEN VERIFIED TO ME BY THE DEPARTMENT. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, SENATOR SMITH. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU SEN. MCCLAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WE'VE SEEN THIS BILL THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I HAD QUESTIONS IN THE LAST COMMITTEE AND I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF MY CONCERNS FROM THE LAST COMMITTEE. YOU SHARED AS AN IMPORTANT POINT TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR THE BILL THE DEPARTMENT FLORIDA COMMERCE GAVE YOU DATA ON 32 BILLION, BILLION WITH A B IN FRAUD ATTEMPTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THEY WERE ABLE TO CURB. HAVE THEY PROVIDED ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON WHAT TYPE OF FRAUD THAT IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CURB WITHOUT THE NEED FOR THIS BILL, OF COURSE THIS IS A NEW BILL, THEY'VE ALREADY CURBED THIS ALLEGED FRAUD AND HOW THE PROVISIONS OF YOUR BILL WILL FURTHER CURB THE EXISTING FRAUD THAT IS HAPPENING. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. ONE OF THE THINGS, MAYBE I DID MAKE IT A POINT TO BRING UP ONE OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IS WE ARE GETTING, THEY ARE BEING BOMBARDED WITH OUTSIDE BOX IF YOU WILL TRYING TO ENTER INTO THE SYSTEM TO MAKE AN APPLICATION. A LOT OF THAT IS PROBABLY BEING DONE THROUGH THAT. NOT NECESSARILY BY A HUMAN PERSON APPLYING FOR AN APPLICATION, HOWEVER I STILL THINK SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE REQUIRING AN APPLICANT WHO IS A RESIDENT OF OUR STATE OR WHATEVER, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE ONEROUS. >>Sen. Smith: PERMISSION FOR A FOLLOW-UP. >>Chair DiCeglie: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>Sen. Smith: TO YOUR POINT, THE BOTS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY ACCESSING THE SYSTEM TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS, WHAT PROVISIONS DO YOU HAVE IN THE BILL TO CURB THAT? >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO DO GOING FORWARD AS IT RELATES TO REPORTING ON THE CLAIMS, NUMBER OF FRAUDULENT CLAIMS DONE ON AN ENDING BASIS AND THEY WOULD BREAK THAT DOWN AS TO WHERE THAT FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY CAME FROM SO THEY WILL BE REQUIRED MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE THAT REPORT. >>Sen. Smith: PERMISSION FOR FOLLOW-UP. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR SMITH. >>Sen. Smith: YOU ARE SAYING THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN YOUR BILL THAT DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO ENGAGE IN NEW EFFORTS TO CURB THAT BOUGHT FRAUD IF YOU WILL. >>Sen. McClain: THAT IS CORRECT, I COULD GO TO THE LINE, IT TOOK A SECOND BUT THERE ARE NEW REQUIREMENTS THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO REPORT AND IT WILL BE ON THEIR DOMAIN WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND IT AND THERE WILL BE A REPORT THAT THEY DO. THAT IS A NEW REQUIREMENT. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION, ADDITIONAL QUESTION. SEPARATE FROM THE BOTS AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS OF COURSE SEPARATE FROM A HUMAN THAT IS APPLYING FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS, HOW DOES MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR A SERVER IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WHO'S BEEN LAID OFF TO GET THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HELP PREVENT ATTACKS FROM OVERSEAS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD? FOR EXAMPLE THEY ARE ASKED TO VERIFY EVERY TWO WEEKS THEY ARE LIVING. WE ARE ASKING THE HUMAN TO VERIFY THIS EVERY TWO WEEKS THEY ARE LIVING. HOW DOES THAT COMBAT FRAUD ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE APPLICATION IS IF A HUMAN HAS APPLIED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT ONCE, THEY ARE LIVING. WHY DO WE HAVE TO ASK THEM TO VERIFY THEY ARE LIVING EVERY TWO WEEKS? >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY I GUESS BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT PERSON, THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO DO THAT TO CONTINUE TO PAY THE BENEFITS. THE DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THAT PERSON AND MAKE SURE ALL THESE THINGS, SOME OF THIS STUFF THEY ARE ALREADY REQUIRED, SOME OF THIS IS REQUIRED AS RELATES TO LOOKING TO A JOB SO WE ARE TIGHTENING THAT UP A BIT BUT THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THAT PERSON IS ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS ONCE THAT ENDS. >>Sen. Smith: PERMISSION FOR ONE FINAL FOLLOW-UP. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR SMITH. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU. SO, IN ADDITION TO THE VERIFYING EVERY TWO WEEKS THAT THEY ARE LIVING THEY HAVE TO VERIFY EVERY TWO WEEKS THAT THEY ARE NOT INCARCERATED, THAT THEY ARE NOT ALREADY EMPLOYED. HOW DO THEY, I GUESS HOW DO THEY PROVE THAT? IT'S JUST A LOT OF BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH. HOW DO THEY PROVE THEY ARE NOT INCARCERATED? LIKE, HOW DO I PROVIDE EVIDENCE I AM NOT IN PRISON OTHER THAN APPLYING FOR THE BENEFITS AGAIN, WALK ME THROUGH IT BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND ALSO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE COST TO THE STATE TO ENFORCE THIS AND IS THIS AS WE SAY IN SPANISH. [SPEAKING SPANISH] IS IT WORTH THE FRUSTRATION OF THEM GOING THROUGH THIS EVERY TWO WEEKS WHEN DOING SO WOULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DELAYS TO THEM RECEIVING THE CHECK WHICH IS A SERIOUS BURDEN ON SOMEONE WHO IS UNEMPLOYED WHO'S TRYING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES HEALTHY AND WELL. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. NUMBER ONE NORMALLY IT IS A SEVEN DAY PERIOD BEFORE YOU CAN APPLY, BEFORE THEY WOULD BE PAID. YOU CAN APPLY FOR THEM AND DURING THAT SEVEN DAYS THEY SHOW YOU ARE ALIVE, UNEMPLOYED, ALL OF THAT. THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE REQUIRED THEN TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION IS STILL CORRECT AND ACCURATE. THEY ARE ALREADY DOING SOME OF THAT SO IT WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER MATTER OF THEM VERIFYING THAT PERSON IS STILL ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS. IT DOESN'T STOP THEM FROM GETTING THE BENEFIT, DURING THAT TIME IT WOULD JUST SAY THEY ARE STILL ELIGIBLE, WE JUST KEEP ON GOING. SO AND I THINK MAYBE TO THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION, ANYTIME YOU HAVE A FUND THAT'S THIS LARGE, ANY FRAUD THAT IS TAKING PLACE PARTS THE SYSTEM ITSELF, ALSO HURTS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DULY, CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE A RIGHT TO GET REEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS. I JUST DON'T SEE THERE'S ANY REASON WE SHOULDN'T TRY TO MAKE SURE ALL FRAUD IS TAKEN CARE OF IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, SEEING NONE WE WILL GO TO APPEARANCE FORMS, I'M SORRY, SENATOR BERNARD YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>Sen. Bernard: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. SEN. MCCLAIN, IN REGARD TO THE BOTS, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT DOING TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THESE BOTS FROM THESE FRAUDS? >>Chair DiCeglie: YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I THINK IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER OPERATION OR COMPANY, THEY WILL HAVE TO FILE LAWS AND ALL THOSE THINGS BUT YOU STILL TALK TO ACCOMPANY. I TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN AT A SMALL COMPANY AND HE SAID 100 TIMES A DAY FOR A SMALL COMPANY IS HIS SOFTWARE, SOMEONE IS TRYING TO BREAK INTO HIS SOFTWARE TO GET INTO HIS COMPANY FILES. AND THAT'S JUST A SMALL OPERATOR SO WE ALL KNOW OUR COMPUTERS IN OUR OWN OFFICES WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE OPEN WHEN SOMEONE SENDS US MAIL AND I'M ASSUMING EVERY STATE AGENCY WE HAVE IS GETTING HIT HUNDREDS OF TIMES A DAY WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO DO BAD THINGS, BE FRAUDULENT AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS SO I'M ASSUMING THROUGH THE CYBERSECURITY WE HAVE IN FLORIDA THAT WOULD BE INTERSECTING SOME OF THIS. >>Sen. Bernard: DO WE KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE, HAS THE STATE PAID UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE TO SOME OF THESE BOTS? >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE WOULD START REPORTING GOING FORWARD ON THE PROJECT CLAIMS AND WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM. SO IN THE BILL THERE IS NOW A REQUIREMENT THEY REPORT BACK ON A REGULAR BASIS. >>Sen. Bernard: SO THEY WOULD REPORT TO US BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THEY ARE REQUESTING FOR US TO DO TO STOP SOME OF THESE BOTS. >>Sen. McClain: NOT AT THIS TIME. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR BRACY DAVIS QUESTION. >>Sen. Bracy Davis: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. FOUR UNEMPLOYED RESIDENTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, LET'S TALK ABOUT THEM, WITHOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR ACCESS TO ONE-STOP CAREER CENTERS AND A LIMITED NUMBER OF BUSINESSES WHAT IS THE BILLS PRACTICAL PATHWAY FOR THEM TO COMPLETE FIVE JOB INTERVIEWS EACH WEEK. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. MCCLAIN. >>Sen. McClain: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. AND SENATOR DAVIS, SEN. BRACY DAVIS, SENATOR DAVIS ISN'T HERE. YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT MOST SMALL COUNTIES THEIR REQUISITE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON UNEMPLOYMENT PROBABLY ALSO WOULD BE REQUISITE TO HOW MANY JOBS AVAILABLE IN THAT COMMUNITY SO I DON'T THINK IT CREATES ANY HARDER BURDEN ON SOMEONE FROM A SMALLER COUNTY COMPARED TO A LARGER COUNTY. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SEN. MCCLAIN, NOW WE WILL GET TO OUR APPEARANCE FORMS. WE GOT CHRISTINA REGALADO WAIVING AGAINST. NORWOOD ORRIC IS WAIVING AGAINST. SONIA JOHNSON IS WAIVING AGAINST. KAREN WOODALL WITH THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR FISCAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY. GOOD MORNING, WELCOME, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> NOW IT'S ON. SENATORS, OUR UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS BROKEN, IT'S BEEN BROKEN FOR A A WHILE. THE CHANGES MADE AFTER COVID DIDN'T ADDRESS SOME OF THE UNDERLYING POLICY ISSUES THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO COLLECT THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. TO GET THEM THROUGH JOBS. I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, SOME OF WHICH ARE NOT DIRECTLY ADDITIONS IN THIS BILL BUT ARE IMPACTED. WE'VE LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE REQUIREMENT TO DO 4 JOB CONTACTS. I MEAN, FIVE JOB CONTACTS AND I WILL NOTE IF YOU ARE IN A SMALL COUNTY UNDER 75,000 PEOPLE YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO THREE BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY APPLES TO ORANGES. I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH SEASONAL WORKERS AND THEY ARE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THEIR SKILL SET IS THEY PICK FRUIT, THEY PICKED VEGETABLES, SOME OF THEM GO AND DO CONSTRUCTION WHEN THE SEASON IS OVER. BUT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY ABLE TO DO REAL FIVE CONTACTS A WEEK AND THAT'S ALREADY IN THE STATUTE WITH CHANGES HERE. THEY CAN BE DISQUALIFIED FOR BENEFITS IF THEY DON'T MAKE THOSE FIVE SO IT SEEMS THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRONGER GOOD CAUSE REASON THAT'S NOT ALREADY IN THE STATUTE FOR PEOPLE TO NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE FIVE CONTACTS RATHER THAN JUST DISQUALIFYING THEM. I WANT TO NOTE NUMBERS ABOUT JOB OPENINGS VERSUS THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED DON'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING UNLESS WE ARE MATCHING THE AREAS AND THE PEOPLE TO THEM. STATEWIDE YOU COULD HAVE A LOT OF JOB OPENINGS IN MIAMI-DADE BUT A LOT OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THESE NORTH FLORIDA RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY MATCH UP. THE OTHER POINT I WILL MAKE BECAUSE I KNOW SPEAKERS WILL GO MORE IN DEPTH INTO THE SYSTEM, WE'VE LONG BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT GOOD CAUSE REASONS THAT ARE FOR VOLUNTARILY LEAVING A JOB IN THE STATUTE, IT DOESN'T SAY IT THIS WAY IN THE STAFF ANALYSIS BUT IN STATUTE IT SAYS IF YOU VOLUNTARILY LEAVE A JOB THAT IS NOT A CAUSE THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EMPLOYER, THEN YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS. THAT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EMPLOYER IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE REASONS TO LEAVE THAT ARE NOT THE EMPLOYER'S FAULT, ILLNESS FOR EXAMPLE. WE HAVE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER THINGS BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THE UNDERLYING BILL AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO GO AFTER FRAUD. A LOT OF THESE THINGS WILL NOT GET BOTS, THEY ARE GETTING HUMAN BEINGS THAT ARE OUT OF WORK AND TRYING TO FIND JOBS SO I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS WHICH I THINK YOU WILL MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SOME OF THESE CHANGES SO THANK YOU. >>Chair DiCeglie: WE'VE GOT ELDON MARTEL WAIVING AGAINST. ANTONIO GUNHART WAIVING AGAINST. STEPHANIE MITCHELL WAIVING AGAINST. CAN'T PRONOUNCE THE FIRST AND I CAN'T READ IT. CALLING FROM SPC WAIVING AGAINST. AMINA SAYEK, FLORIDA FOR ALL. GOOD MORNING, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU SENATOR, I AM WITH FLORIDA FOR ALL AND PART OF OUR COALITION INCLUDES THE PUBLIC SERVICES UNION WHICH HAS OVER 20,000 MEMBERS STATEWIDE. WE ARE AGAINST THIS BILL SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS ANTI-LABOR AND MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK TO FIND JOBS. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK ON THIS BILL TO MAYBE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S BEEN ADDRESSED TO FIX THOSE PROBLEMS AND FOCUS MORE ON THE SYSTEM WHICH IS ALREADY HARD ENOUGH TO NAVIGATE. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NEXT WE HAVE DOCTOR RICH TEMPLIN, FLORIDA AFL-CIO, GOOD MORNING SIR, WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING, IT IS MY FIRST TIME THIS SESSION. IT IS AN HONOR. AND I DO APOLOGIZE, THIS THING IS MOVING FAST AND SENATOR McLEAN DID GET BY YOUR OFFICE YESTERDAY AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT BUT I PROMISE YOU I WILL DOUBLE DOWN ON EFFORTS BECAUSE I AM GOING TO CONVINCE YOU THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN CHANGE IN THIS BILL. SERVES MAYFIELD RIGHT, ANYBODY THAT'S HEARD MY SPIEL OVER THE YEARS I HAVE 20 YEARS ON THIS ISSUE. SINCE 2010 WHEN THE INSURANCE SYSTEM WAS ESSENTIALLY NOTED BY GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT, WE'VE BEEN HERE PLEADING WITH YOU TO TRY TO GET IT BACK INTO SHAPE AND AS A MATTER OF FACT MISS WOODALL AND A FEW OTHERS IN THIS ROOM WE PREDICTED AND WARNED EVERYBODY THAT COVID WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, NOT THE PANDEMIC BUT THE FALLOUT FROM A MASS LAYOFF EVENT AND WHAT IT WOULD DO TO OUR SYSTEM AND WHAT IT WOULD DO TO OUR WORKERS BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT 20 YEAR RIDLEY SCOTT DIRECTED IMAX EPIC LIKE I USUALLY DO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SALMON FOR A SECOND. THINK ABOUT THE LIFECYCLE OF SALMON. THEY CATCH UP IN A RIVER, A LITTLE BABY SALMON SWIM DOWN, GO IN THE OCEAN, THEY EAT, THEY GET FAT AND THEN IT'S TIME TO MAKE MORE BABY SALMON SO THEY GO UP A RIVER BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE BORN WHICH IS AMAZING, GOD IS GOOD AND THEY'VE GOT TO FIND THE SAME SPOT. AS THEY ARE HEADED BACK UP THAT RIVER LET'S SAY 100 SALMON START UP A RIVER. THEY ERRORS ARE GOING TO GET 30 OR 40 OF THEM. FISHERMEN ARE GOING TO GET 20 OR 30 OF THEM. DAMS ARE NOW PUT IN THE WAY. THERE ARE ALL THESE BARRIERS TO SALMON GETTING BACK TO MAKE BABY SALMON. BY THE TIME IT'S OVER NINE OUT OF THE 100 HIT THE SWEET SPOT. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN UNEMPLOYMENT INJURED INSURANCE IN FLORIDA. OF EVERY 100 PEOPLE THAT APPLY ONLY 9 TO 10 ACTUALLY RECEIVE BENEFITS. BECAUSE OF ALL THE BARRIERS WE'VE PUT UP IN THE RIVER TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING THERE. WHAT IS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR? IT WAS CREATED AFTER THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, IT'S IN SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AND FEDERAL LAW BECAUSE WE REALIZED WHEN YOU HAVE A MASS LAYOFF EVENT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NO LONGER HAVE SPENDING POWER AND WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE SPENDING POWER MORE BUSINESSES GO UNDER AND THEN THAT GROUP HAS NO SPENDING POWER AND THAT LEADS TO A SPIRAL THAT CREATED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION. SO WE SET UP A SYSTEM. IT'S INSURANCE. WE CHANGED THE NAME IN FLORIDA FROM UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BUT IT'S BUSINESS INSURANCE. BUSINESS OWNERS TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH MONTH ON EACH EMPLOYEE AND PUT IT INTO A POT. THOSE ARE INSURANCE PREMIUMS, THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN CALLED. WE CALL THEM A TAX NOW. THAT POT OF MONEY IS USED GIVE UNEMPLOYED WORKERS SPENDING POWER. IT'S AN INVESTMENT THAT BUSINESSES MAKE SO IF WE HAVE A MASS LAYOFF EVENT, AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, WHATEVER THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE MASSES OF PEOPLE WITH NO SPENDING POWER BECAUSE WHEN THAT HAPPENS BUSINESSES GO UNDER. SO THEY'VE GOT THIS INSURANCE POLICY. GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 1930S THERE'S BEEN INDIVIDUALS WHO IDEOLOGICALLY DON'T AGREE WITH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. THEY DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING YOU GET A BENEFIT. SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK IN FLORIDA TO MAKE FLORIDA THE TEST CASE. WE ARE ALREADY THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY. OUR RECIPIENCY RATE IS 10%. THAT'S THAT NINE, 10 WORKERS OUT OF 100 THAT MAKE IT. OUR EXHAUSTION RATE, HOW LONG YOU CAN REMAIN GETTING BENEFITS, THE WORST IN THE NATION. THE BENEFIT YOU GET, WORST IN THE NATION. THAT IS DESIGNED BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PUT MONEY OUT. I KNOW SEN. MCCLAIN THAT IS NOT THE MOTIVATION HERE AND THIS BILL HAS BEEN FILED YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIFFERENTLY THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT IT, IT'S NOT WELFARE. IT'S NOT AN UNEARNED BENEFIT, IS NOT AN ENTITLEMENT. IT IS INSURANCE FOR BUSINESSES TO HAVE PAYING CUSTOMERS WHEN THE ECONOMY, WHEN THE ECONOMY GOES DOWN. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. YOU'RE NOT TEACHING WORKERS TO GET A JOB AND GET OFF THE COUCH AND GO EAT BONBONS FOR 160 A WEEK, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S DOING THAT. IN THE LONG RUN YOU'RE HURTING BUSINESSES AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE YOU CAN START SEEING THROUGH THAT LENS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW MANY JOB OPENINGS, IT'S NOT JUST THE GEOGRAPHY. IF YOU ARE A SKILLED ENGINEER OR SKILLED CONSTRUCTION WORKER AND THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF JOB OPENINGS IN FAST FOOD, YOU DON'T WANT THE SKILLED WORKERS GOING TO FAST FOOD. YOU WANT THEM TO FIND A JOB, A CAREER IN THEIR FIELD. BECAUSE IF THEY DO GO TO SUBWAY THEY'RE NOT FINDING A JOB IN THEIR FIELD, THEY ARE NOW EARNING LESS, PAYING LESS IN TAXES AND WHEN THEY FIND A JOB IN THEIR FIELD THEY WILL LEAVE THE SUBWAY OWNER HIGH AND DRY. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU ENCOURAGE. YOU WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE TAKE TIME AND FIND A JOB IN THEIR SKILLED FIELD. AGAIN, SEN. MCCLAIN HAS SUCH AN AWESOME RECORD AND REPUTATION AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MOTIVATION IS BUT WHEN WE SEE FRAUD WE WANT IT GONE, FRAUD IS TERRIBLE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT I WOULD HOPE PEOPLE WOULD START LOOKING AT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO. IT'S NOT A GIFT, NOT A HANDOUT. IT'S BUSINESS INSURANCE. THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME SIR. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR SMITH. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU DOCTOR TEMPLIN. I GUESS I COULD GOOGLE THIS OR ASK CHAT GPT FOR THE ANSWER BUT STATE FOR THE RECORD COULD YOU REMIND US WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WEEKS SOMEONE CAN GET FOR REEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND YOU SAID THE AVERAGE WAS FOR AROUND $130, I WANT TO LEVEL SET FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND SENATORS IT IS WE ARE FIGHTING OVER AND HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE THESE BENEFITS ARE AND FOR HOW LONG. >>Chair DiCeglie: CHAT GPT YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR A CONCISE ANSWER. >> HE SAID FOR THE RECORD SO THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS. I'M NOT ABLE TO SAY WHAT THE WEEKS ARE NOW. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS IS WE TIED THE NUMBER OF WEEKS TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE SO THE NUMBER OF WEEKS SOMEONE IS ABLE TO REMAIN ON BENEFITS FLUCTUATES AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS NOW BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE MADE THAT CHANGE TO TIE IT TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, UNEMPLOYMENT IN FLORIDA AT THAT RATE MAY GO DOWN. THAT'S STATEWIDE. THAT IS INDUSTRYWIDE. BUT WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, ENGINEERS, HIGHLY SKILLED FOLKS LOSE THEIR JOBS AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THEIR SPHERE OF THE ECONOMY IS HIGH BUT THE STATE IS LOW SO THEY END UP EXHAUSTING THEIR BENEFITS BEFORE THEY FIND EMPLOYMENT. SORRY FOR THAT NONANSWER. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU FOR ADMITTING THAT. NO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT UP WE HAVE RICHARD JONES. GOOD MORNING, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED, WELCOME. >> CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, MY NAME IS RICHARD JONES AND I'M SECRETARY TREASURER FOR THE BUILDING TRADES AND MEMBER OF THE UNION AND ALLIED TRADES. FLORIDA'S GROWTH DEPENDS ON SKILLED CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. THESE WORKERS BUILD OUR BRIDGES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, HIGH-RISES AND INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES THAT KEEP THIS STATE RUNNING BUT CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO THE MOST CYCLICAL INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA. WHEN A PROJECT ENDS OR WEATHER DELAYS HIT OR A PHASE WRAPS UP EARLIER THAN EXPECTED WORKERS ARE LAID OFF THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IS HOW THEY SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES UNTIL THE NEXT JOB IS READY. EVERY DAY WE GO TO WORK WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES OUT OF A JOB. SENATE BILL 216 THREATENS THAT STABILITY BY MAKING IT EASIER FOR WORKERS TO BE DENIED THE BENEFITS THEY'VE EARNED THROUGH A LIFETIME OF WORK. THE BILL CREATES A DISQUALIFICATION FOR MISSING THREE JOB INTERVIEWS WITHOUT NOTICE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR AND HIRING DOESN'T HAPPEN THROUGH ONLINE INTERVIEWS, IT HAPPENS THROUGH DISPATCH HALLS PROJECT BY PROJECT CALLS AND REFERRALS. JOBS OFTEN COME FAST SOMETIMES SAME DAY. MEMBERS ARE NOT SITTING AROUND IGNORING INTERVIEWS, THEY'RE WAITING FOR SKILLED TRADES SPECIFIC WORK THAT MATCHES THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, THEIR TRAINING AND SAFETY STANDARDS WE ENFORCE. USING A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL INTERVIEW REQUIREMENT FOR CRAFT WORKFORCE DOESN'T REFLECT HOW THE REAL WORLD OF CONSTRUCTION OPERATES. AFTER 25 WEEKS OF BENEFITS IN A YEAR WHICH CAN HAPPEN WHEN A WORKER EXPERIENCES MULTIPLE SHORT LAYOFFS THIS BILL REDEFINES WORK AS ANY JOB THAT PAYS MINIMUM WAGE. THINK WHAT THIS MEANS. THE CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL PAINTER GLASER OR HIGHLY TRAINED DRYWALL FINISHER COULD BE FORCED TO TAKE A LOW-WAGE NON-TRADE JOB JUST TO STAY ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS. THAT HOLDS SKILLED WORKERS OUT OF THE INDUSTRY. IT UNDERMINES APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND LOWERS THE POOL OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AT A TIME WHEN FLORIDA FACES A SKILLED LABOR SHORTAGE. THE BILL ADDS REPEATED IDENTITY AND EMPLOYMENT CROSS CHECKS EVERY TWO WEEKS, BUILDING TRADES WORKERS TRAVEL COUNTY TO COUNTY AND ACROSS STATE LINES. FOR THE NEXT JOB. THEY USE JOBS LIKE WI-FI SHARED HOUSING AND SOMETIMES SHARED BANK ACCOUNTS WITH FAMILIES. THESE REALITIES OF CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL TRIGGER FRAUD FLAGS CAUSING DELAYS OR INVESTIGATIONS THAT LEAVE FAMILIES WITH NO INCOME. THESE CHECKS DON'T STOP FRAUD, THEY SLOW DOWN PAYMENTS TO THE WORKERS WHO NEED THEM. FINALLY THE BILL DISQUALIFIES WORKERS WHO DON'T RETURN WHEN RECALLED. CONSTRUCTION RECALL IS OFTEN A TEXT MESSAGE FROM A FOREMAN OR A CALL THAT COMES AFTER HOURS OR EVEN A MESSAGE, SORRY. IF A WORKER NEVER RECEIVES THAT MESSAGE THEY LOSE BENEFITS. AGAIN THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. CHAIRS AND MEMBERS, BUILDING TRADES WORKERS WANT TO WORK. THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF EVERY MAJOR PROJECT IN THE STATE. THEY SHOW UP EARLY, WORK IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DURING THE SHORT UNAVOIDABLE LAYOFFS THAT COME WITH THIS INDUSTRY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>Chair DiCeglie: INCLUDES APPEARANCE FORMS, SENATORS ANY DEBATE, SEN. BRACY DAVIS YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN DEBATE. >>Sen. Bracy Davis: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I SPOKE AT THE FIRST COMMITTEE STOP ON THIS BUT I FEEL THE NEED TO SPEAK AGAIN. DOCTOR TEMPLIN YOU SAID YOU WOULD TRY TO CONVINCE US, YOU ALWAYS CONVINCE ME FOR WHATEVER IT'S WORTH SO YES, THERE WERE SOME FIXES MADE, THERE WERE FIXES BUT CLEARLY THE SYSTEM IS CLEARLY NOT FIXED. IT IS IMPERFECT. THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES AND THERE ARE CLEARLY BARRIERS. AND LEST WE FORGET AS DOCTOR TEMPLIN MADE MENTION WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY. WE ARE PERHAPS THE LOWEST, CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE GETTING A WEEK, WE'RE TALKING A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS IF THAT. ALSO AND I WANT TO REITERATE SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE SENT IT BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN HOME THESE PEOPLE HAVE EARNED IT. THIS IS NOT A HANDOUT, THIS IS NOT WELFARE. THESE PEOPLE HAVE EARNED IT. SO I THINK WE ARE FORGETTING THAT PART THAT THE STATE IS GIVING OUT MONEY, NO, THEY ARE GIVING OUT MONEY THEY HAVE EARNED AND IT'S INTERESTING GOING BACK TO THE ROADBLOCKS AND BUREAUCRACY BUT THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED DURING THE PANDEMIC A DIRECT QUOTE THE SYSTEM HAS UNNECESSARY ROADBLOCKS. WHY ARE WE CREATING MORE? THAT'S THE GOVERNOR, THAT'S WHEN HE SAID, UNNECESSARY ROADBLOCKS SO IF THIS MAKES IT TO HIS DESK HE WILL AGAIN SAY THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY ROADBLOCK BUT ONE OTHER THING I FIND INTERESTING. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS BODY HAS SOME SELECTIVE SUPPORT FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES. WE SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME THIS PAST FLOOR SESSION TALKING ABOUT THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT AND HOW THEY FEEL FORGOTTEN SO I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THE RESPONSE FROM THE SPONSOR TODAY IS THE RURAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE OKAY, I DON'T REPRESENT A RURAL COMMUNITY BUT IT'S INTERESTING THEY WILL BE OKAY WHEN IT COMES TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR MAKING IT THROUGH FIVE JOB INTERVIEWS WITH NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THEY WILL BE FINE BUT OTHER TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO FOCUS ON RURAL COMMUNITIES WE DO BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE SOMEWHAT FORGOTTEN. OUR SUPPORT SEEMS TO BE SELECTIVE BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY I HEARD A WHOLE LOT OF NUMBERS TODAY, PERCENTAGES. I HAVE ANOTHER NUMBER AND I WILL LEAVE IT HERE. 300,000 BLACK WOMEN HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS LAST YEAR, THANK YOU. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER DEBATE, SEN. ARRINGTON IN DEBATE. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I WILL BE BRIEF, YOU HAVE A FULL AGENDA SO I'LL REST A LITTLE BIT ON THAT BUT I DIDN'T ASK OR I DIDN'T HEAR AND I KNOW THE NEXT COMMITTEE STOP IS FISCAL POLICY SO MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING TO BE BROUGHT UP AND IF IT KEEPS MOVING BUT LAST YEAR THE BILL WE HAD, THE AGENCY ANALYSIS HAD A COST OF 8.64 MILLION IN YEAR ONE, 10.8 IN YEAR TWO AND 13.392 IN YEAR THREE BUT THIS YEAR'S ANALYSIS SAYS WE DON'T KNOW THE FISCAL IMPACT OR THERE IS A SAVED DATABASE SO MAYBE IF NOT TODAY BUT IN FISCAL POLICY SINCE THAT WILL BE THE FISCAL PART WE WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE DETAILS ON WHAT WE THINK THAT COST WILL BE FOR US. >>Chair DiCeglie: VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I WANTED TO KNOW THAT IF WE ARE TYING THE AMOUNT OF TIME SOMEBODY CAN GET BENEFITS AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS JOB, EXCUSE ME, REASONS FOR THIS BILL IS THERE IS A LACK OF JOBS, ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE OPEN JOBS IS WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LEAVING OUR STATE FOR IMMIGRATION CONCERNS AND OTHER CONCERNS SO A LOT OF THOSE MIGHT BE LOW-PAYING JOBS OPENED PEOPLE ARE SCARED TO SHOW UP TO WORK OR ARE SCARED OR HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT THOUGH THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE. THERE'S BEEN TALK THIS WEEK ABOUT AI IN THIS CHAMBER AND WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF MAYBE HIGHER-PAYING WHITE-COLLAR JOBS PEOPLE WILL LOSE BECAUSE OF THE ADVENT OF AI SO GOING FORWARD IF YOU'RE SETTING UP A NEW SYSTEM WITH THIS BILL, WE ARE GOING TO BE FACING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND A LOT OF JOBS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE EASILY FILLED. WHITE-COLLAR HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR WHO LOSES HER JOB IS NOT GOING TO WORK AT WAWA, THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE BUT THOSE MIGHT BE THE JOBS THAT ARE OPEN TO WE MAY BE FACING A DELUGE OF PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS AND WE ARE ONLY SETTING UP THE SYSTEM TO FAIL AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THESE PEOPLE AND LASTLY I WOULD SAY I HAVEN'T HEARD HOW ANY OF THESE MEASURES ARE COMBATING FRAUD. THERE WERE QUESTIONS ASKED HOW ARE THEY DOING IT AND MAKING PEOPLE CALL IN OR DO FIVE INTERVIEWS IS NOT COMBATING FRAUD, THAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE AS DOCTOR TEMPLIN SAID. IF 10% ARE GETTING I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A FRAUD PROBLEM BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF VENTING GOING ON FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE WE ARE STILL GETTING CALLS IN OUR OFFICE THESE PROCESSES ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THEY SHOULD BE PEOPLE NEED HELP TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT SO FOR THESE REASONS AND THOSE MENTIONED BY MY COLLEAGUES AND SPEAKERS I HOPE WE CAN VOTE THIS BILL DOWN AND WORK ON MAKING THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM BETTER FOR WORKERS, NOT HARDER. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR SMITH. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. ULTIMATELY I DON'T THINK THIS BILL IS NEEDED. I DON'T THINK THE PROPOSAL IS NEEDED. I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM WE CURRENTLY HAVE STILL BEEN 2026 WITH OUR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS IT'S TOO EASY TO GET. THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM. IT'S TOO HARD TO GET. AND THE BENEFITS ARE TOO FEW. AND FAR BETWEEN. I WANT TO PUT THE ISSUE TO BED ON THE FRAUD. THIS WAS ONCE A LEADING JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS BILL WHICH IS THAT FLORIDA COMMERCE HAS STOPPED $32 MILLION IN FRAUD ATTEMPTS AND REEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SINCE 2021. CONTEXT, FIRST OF ALL I'VE NOT SEEN THE REPORT BECAUSE NO REPORT EXISTS. I ASKED FOR THE REPORT AS IT WAS PRESENTED IN LAST COMMITTEE, THERE IS A REPORT OUT THERE, NO REPORT EXISTS. IT IS A TALKING POINT BUT I'M GOING TO SUSPEND MY DISBELIEF TO JUST SAY SURE, $32 BILLION IN FRAUD ATTEMPTS, AND REEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BLOCKED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SINCE 2021. THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH THE CURRENT TOOLS THEY HAVE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR MORE ONEROUS RESTRICTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS ON UNEMPLOYED WORKERS, THEY ARE DOING IT NOW TO PREVENT FRAUD FROM ORGANIZED CRIME NETWORKS, IDENTITY THIEVES AND MULTISTATE FRAUD RINGS. THEY DID THAT USING THE TOOLS THEY HAVE NOW AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO, THE BOUGHT FRAUD AND MULTISTATE FRAUD RINGS STUFF THEY STOPPED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE UNEMPLOYED HUMANS THAT ARE ASKING FOR THEIR REEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. AND BY THE WAY I WANT TO PUT IN CONTEXT ALSO HOW MUCH IN BENEFITS IT IS WE ARE ARGUING OVER THAT WE WANT TO MAKE EVEN HARDER FOR THE UNEMPLOYED WORKER TO RECEIVE. THE STANDARD, THE STANDARD IS ABOUT 12 WEEKS MAXIMUM OF BENEFITS. IT FLUCTUATES WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BUT ON AVERAGE 12 IS THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT AND WHILE THIS IS NOT THE AVERAGE PAYOUT PER WEEK I WILL GIVE YOU THE MAXIMUM PAYOUT. THE MAXIMUM PAYOUT FOR REINSURANCE, REEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR THE WORKER IS $275 A WEEK. THAT'S THE MAXIMUM THEY CAN RECEIVE OR THAT 12 WEEKS. SO MULTIPLY THAT BY FOUR, THAT'S $1100 A MONTH READ HOW MANY BILLS CAN YOU PAY WITH $1100 A MONTH IN REEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE? I'M TOTALING THIS AND IF I WAS UNEMPLOYED AND RECEIVING THE BENEFITS 1100 A MONTH MAYBE COVERS MY PROPERTY INSURANCE ON MY HOME. MY ENERGY BILL FROM DUKE ENERGY, THANKS YOU ALL. CAR INSURANCE. MAYBE THAT'S IT. DOESN'T COVER MY MORTGAGE. DOESN'T COVER THE FOOD I NEED TO PUT ON THE TABLE FOR MY FAMILY, DOESN'T COVER GAS. IT DOESN'T COVER MY ACTUAL CAR PAYMENT. WE ARE BARELY GIVING THEM ENOUGH BENEFITS THEY NEED ANYWAY WHILE THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED. I'M VOTING AGAINST THIS BILL. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR BERNARD. >>Sen. Bernard: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I WILL BE QUICK SINCE MOST OF WHAT I SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT DOCTOR TEMPLIN I WAS IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE BILL WAS IN 2010 AND WHERE THERE WHERE A LOT OF BARRIERS CREATED WITH THIS UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM. I THINK SEN. MCCLAIN, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE FRAUD THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN TRY TO DO THAT BUT TO CREATE MORE BARRIERS I THINK THAT IS NOT FAIR TO SOME OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA SO THAT IS THE REASON I WILL BE AGAINST THE BILL. >>Chair DiCeglie: FURTHER DEBATE, SEN. MCCLAIN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO CLOSE. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. A COUPLE THINGS, ONE I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY THAT APPLIED FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE DIDN'T DESERVE IT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR ON THE RECORD BUT I SAY ANYBODY THAT DOES APPLY YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE THERE'S A LIST OF CRITERIA, THAT THEY MEET THAT CRITERIA GOING FORWARD THEY SHOULD MEET THE CRITERIA. I DO REPRESENT A SMALL COUNTY, IN FACT, MOST OF THE COUNTIES I REPRESENT ARE FAIRLY RURAL. IT'S A LARGE, MOST OF THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THOSE COUNTIES ARE WHERE THE POPULATION IS. I DIDN'T SAY THEY WOULD BE OKAY. I SAID STATISTICALLY THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED VERSUS JOBS AVAILABLE WILL PROBABLY EQUAL OUT. CERTAINLY I WOULD STAND CORRECTED IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GIVE NUMBERS BUT THAT WAS WHAT I DID SAY. DOCTOR TEMPLIN SAID IT BEST, HE SAID THIS IS MOVING FASTER THAN I THOUGHT. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. I DO HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY ON ANY BILL FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO BRING ME STATISTICS OR LANGUAGE THAT SAYS MAYBE HAD YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN WILL I WILL CLOSE WITH MY DOOR IS OPEN TO ALL OF YOU AS WELL. ALL THE SENATORS. I COVET ALL OF YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS SO MY DOOR IS OPEN TO THAT AND WITH THAT I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE SUPPORT. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU SEN. MCCLAIN, CALL ROLL ON SENATE BILL 216. >>Sen. Arrington: >>Sen. Avila: >>Sen. Bernard: NO. >>Sen. Bracy Davis: NO. >>Sen. Grall: >>Sen. Leek: YES. >>Sen. Martin: >>Sen. Mayfield: >>Sen. McClain: >>Sen. Smith: NO. >>Sen. Truenow: >>Sen. Wright: YES. >>Vice Chair Polsky: >>Chair DiCeglie: YES, BY YOUR VOTE SENATE BILL 216 IS REPORTED FAVORABLY. WE WILL GO TO TAB NUMBER THREE, SENATE BILL 356 ON UTILITY TERRAIN VEHICLES BY SENATOR WRIGHT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO EXPLAIN YOUR BILL. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR HEARING THIS GOOD BILL. TODAY I AM PRESENTING SENATE BILL 356 WHICH IS THE SAME LEGISLATION I'VE PASSED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE LAST YEAR AND SUCCESSFULLY PASSED IT THROUGH. UNFORTUNATELY IT GOT HELD UP IN THE LAST SESSION SO I AM BACK TO PRESENT THIS BILL THIS YEAR. THIS LEGISLATION IS FOCUSED ON CREATING A SAFE PATH FOR COMMUNITIES TO OPT IN AND THAT'S THAT KEY PART, THEY CAN OPT IN OR OUT, THEY DON'T NEED TO OPT OUT, THEY CAN CALL IN IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THIS A STATUTE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR TOWN, THEIR CITY SO THEY CAN OPT IN TO LEGAL STREET USAGE OF UTVS, UTILITY VEHICLES COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS UTVS. DESPITE THEM NOT BEING PERMITTED FOR STREET USE IN FLORIDA HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF UTV'S ARE ALREADY ON OUR STREETS WITHOUT STATE PLATES. UTV'S ARE TITLED VEHICLES AND CAN BE RECORDED AND REGISTERED IN OTHER STATES AND RECEIVE A PLATE. THIS BILL CREATES REGULATIONS FOR UTV'S TO BE OPERATED ON DESIGNATED ROADS WHERE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DECIDED IT IS SAFE TO DO SO UNDER REQUIREMENTS SET BY THIS BILL EXPANDED UPON BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS BILL SPECIFIES A UTV MAY ONLY BE OPERATED BY A LICENSED DRIVER OR PERSON WITH A LEARNERS LICENSE SEATED NEXT TO A LICENSED DRIVER. THE BILL DEFINES A UTV UNDER SUCH MINIMUM RESTRICTIONS FOR THEIR OPERATION INCLUDING ALL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTES. LOCALS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DESIGNATE TWO MUNICIPAL STREETS THAT HAVE A POSTED SPEED OF LESS THAN 55 MILES PER OUR BOOK BEFORE MAKING ANY DESIGNATION RESPONSIBLE COUNTY MUST FIRST DETERMINE A UTV MAY SAFELY TRAVEL ON OR ACROSS PUBLIC ROADS OR STREETS. THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO SET MORE STRICT REQUIREMENTS AS THEY SEE FIT. THIS WILL EMPOWER LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MORE EFFECTIVELY REGULATE AND ENFORCE THE SAFE USE OF UTV AND GIVE OUR STATE THE REVENUE FROM SALES TAX AND REGISTRATION FEES THAT ARE GOING TO OTHER STATES. MANY MANUFACTURERS ALREADY MAKE AND SELL UTV'S THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS BILL AND THE DOT REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE THAT HAVE PASSED SOME FORM ON THE ROAD FOR UTV USAGE AND ALSO MANY AFTERMARKET COMPANIES OFFER ROAD READY KITS TO UPDATE AN EXISTING UTV THAT IS CURRENTLY MISSING CERTAIN EQUIPMENT TO BE LEGAL. FOR EXAMPLE THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF TIRES SOLD THROUGH THE COUNTRY AND BFGOODRICH MAKES A TIRE SPECIFICALLY FOR UTV THAT IS DOT APPROVED AND CAN HANDLE ROUGH TERRAIN AND ASPHALT. THIS SESSION HAS BEEN AN AMAZING PUSH FOR A RURAL RENAISSANCE, THIS IS ANOTHER STEP TO HELP OUR RANCHERS, FARMERS BY ADDING ANOTHER RESOURCE TO MAKE THEIR TIMES EASIER. THOSE INDUSTRIES USE AS A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE TO GET TO AND FROM CROPS SUPPLY STORES AND AROUND CONNECTED DRIVEWAYS. THIS OFFER SUPPORT TO OUR RURAL WORKERS AND PROVIDE A CLEAR AND CONCISE LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITH OPERATION OF UTV'S IN OUR STATE AND THAT IS THE BILL. >>Chair DiCeglie: THANK YOU SENATOR. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BILL, SEN. ARRINGTON. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON SENATOR WRIGHT, I SAW THIS AT ALL THE COMMITTEE STOPS SO I WILL NOT DUPLICATE QUESTIONS, I HAVE NEW ONES THAT HAVE COME UP AND YOU MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BEING ABLE TO NOT OPT IN SO TO SPEAK THAT THEY COULD NOT ALLOW UTV'S OR BORIC BE MORE RESTRICTIVE, COULD THEY BE LESS RESTRICTIVE THAN YOUR BILL? >>Sen. Wright: THIS WOULD BE A STATUTE THEY CAN OPT IN THAT THEY WOULD BE LESS RESTRICTIVE NOT MORE RESTRICTIVE. >>Sen. Arrington: A COUPLE MORE IF YOU WILL ALLOW. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. ARRINGTON. >>Sen. Arrington: WE ASKED THIS LAST SESSION, DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON ACCIDENT INVOLVING UTV'S, THEIR SAFETY RECORD, HOW THEY PERFORMED ON THE ROADWAYS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THIS IS ALLOWED. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, I DO IF YOU WOULD LIKE NUMBERS. >>Sen. Arrington: I WOULD LOVE SOME, THROUGH THE CHAIR. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WISCONSIN HAS AN ESTIMATED A LITTLE OVER 200,000 UTV'S AND OVER 63,000 PERMITTED MILES IN WISCONSIN AND IN THE PAST YEAR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAD 14 FATALITIES, THAT COMES OUT TO .007% CHANCE OF HARM. ARIZONA AS UTV'S REGISTERED LIKE A CAR BUT THEY HAVE A TOTAL OF 12 FATALITIES IN 2024. AND I HAVE MORE IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >>Sen. Arrington: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I'M HEARING FROM THOSE STATES 26 FATALITIES, IS THAT CORRECT? >>Sen. Wright: YES, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. >>Sen. Arrington: ALSO SENATOR WRIGHT IT LOOKS LIKE NEARBY STATES LIKE ALABAMA GEORGIA MISSISSIPPI DO NOT ALLOW FOR PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY USAGE OF UTV'S. WHY I GUESS ARE WE DOING THIS ONE OUR OTHER NEIGHBORING STATES ARE NOT ALLOWING IT? >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THE REASON WE ARE DOING THIS BILL IS AS I STATED THEY ARE ALREADY ON OUR STREETS AND WE ARE NOT COLLECTING THE SALES TAX, NOT COLLECTING TAG FEES AND NOT PROVIDING FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT RULES THEY CAN FOLLOW IN THEIR LINE OF WORK AND THIS GIVES OUR COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPT IN. WE'RE NOT ENFORCING ANY COMMUNITY, ANY TOWNSHIP OR ANY COUNTY BUT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THIS ON THEIR OWN END AND AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE MANY VEHICLES HAVE BOTH CARTS AND THEY HAD TO SET UP THEIR OWN IF YOU WILL LEGISLATION TO ALLOW GOLF CARTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. >>Sen. Arrington: LAST QUESTION IF YOU ALLOW. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. ARRINGTON. >>Sen. Arrington: DO YOU KNOW IF UTV'S ARE CRASH TESTED LIKE CARS ARE? >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, THEY ARE NOT CRASH TESTED LIKE MOTORCYCLES, UTV'S ARE NOT CRASH TESTED, BICYCLES ARE NOT CRASH TESTED AND THEY ARE ALL LEGAL TO BE ON OUR ROADS, THEY CAN BE ON OUR INTERSTATES AND UTV'S CANNOT BE USED ON A STATE HIGHWAY EITHER. >>Chair DiCeglie: SEN. BRACY DAVIS QUESTIONS. >>Sen. Bracy Davis: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. FULL DISCLOSURE I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT UTV'S, HOWEVER I HAVE AND I'M SURE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THIS BILL. AND SO I HAVE A LETTER FROM HONDA THAT SAYS THESE PRODUCTS ARE EXCLUSIVELY FOR OFF-ROAD USE AND THEIR PROLONGED USE ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS SO THAT'S THE MANUFACTURER. HOW DO WE, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THE ACTUAL MANUFACTURE SAYING THAT BASICALLY THEY DON'T SUPPORT THIS BILL AND THIS LEGISLATION IS DANGEROUS, HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT TO PEOPLE BUILDING THESE THINGS SAYING THIS IS NO GOOD. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: VERY GOOD QUESTION. THE TOP 10 STREET LEGAL UTV'S IN THE UNITED STATES, NUMBER THREE, HONDA, NUMBER THREE IS HONDA OF THE TOP 10. >>Chair DiCeglie: FURTHER QUESTIONS. SENATOR MARTIN YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR A QUESTION. >>Sen. Martin: THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS BILL WITH THE MEAT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU MENTIONED TO SEN. ARRINGTON YOU COMPARE THIS TO GULFPORT LEGISLATION AND GOLF CARTS ARE PERMITTED, IS THERE A REASON WE DIDN'T ADD THE UTV DEFINITION UNDER THE GOLF STATUTE AND USE THAT FRAMEWORK FOR CROSSING ROADS, SPEED LIMITS. EQUIPMENT. DRIVING ONLY DURING DAYTIME HOURS. IS THERE A REASON THAT YOU CHOSE TO NOT USE THE FRAMEWORK THAT HAD BEEN DEBATED, DISCUSSED AND NEATLY TAILORED FOR GOLF CARTS AND CREATE A WHOLE SEPARATE STATUTE WITH A COUPLE BIG DISTINCTIONS. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH SENATOR, THE REASON IS THEY ARE ALREADY HERE. THE REASON IS A UTV IS MUCH MORE A UTILITY TRAIN VEHICLE. THEY HAVE SEATBELTS ALREADY IN THEM THEY CAN CARRY UP TO FIVE PASSENGERS COMFORTABLY, THEY HAVE A BOX IN THE BACK IF YOU ORDER THE RIGHT UNIT THAT CAN LIFT UP TO A THOUSAND POUNDS OF MATERIAL SO YOU CAN USE IT ON YOUR FARM TO HAUL MATERIAL BACK AND FORTH THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT OUR CITIZENS WANT AND THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR AND CAN DO WITH A GOLF CART SO THAT IS THE REASON WHY. GOLF CARTS ARE GOOD FOR WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR BUT THEY ARE BASICALLY USED FOR TRANSPORTATION WITHIN A CITY AND JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE THERE ARE CITIES IN FLORIDA THAT ALREADY APPROVED GOLF CARTS BUT THE STATE DOESN'T ALLOW THEM STATEWIDE. HAVE TO OPT IN LIKE YOU WOULD IN THIS BILL, DOES THAT ANSWER? >>Chair DiCeglie: FURTHER QUESTIONS, VICE CHAIR POLSKY. >>Vice Chair Polsky: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. CAN YOU TELL US THE DIFFERENCE IN SPEED A GOLF CART CAN GO UP TO VERSES 18 UTV CAN GO UP TO. >>Chair DiCeglie: SENATOR WRIGHT. >>Sen. Wright: I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE GOLF CARTS THAT CAN DO WHEELIES AND 100 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR AND YOU CAN DO A WHEELIE WITH A UTV AND MAXIMUM SPEED IS ABOUT 65 MILES PER OUR. >>Vice Chair Polsky: OKAY. >>Chair DiCeglie: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, SENATOR SMITH. >>Sen. Smith: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SENATOR WRIGHT. I KNOW IT'S NOT A SECRET I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL, I VOTED AGAINST THE BILL LAST YEAR. THIS BILL IS MOSTLY SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S. IT'S MOSTLY THE SAME BILL IT SOUNDS LIKE SO I THINK FIRST MY FUNDAMENTAL CONCERN THAT DROVE MY OPPOSITION LAST YEAR REMAINS WHICH IS THAT MANY OF THE PROFESSIONALS AND MANUFACTURERS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO MAKE THESE VEHICLES, THEY SAY THEY ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS FOR THE TYPE OF ROAD USE WE ARE TRYING TO LEGALIZE SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND FROM A MOST BASIC PERSPECTIVE YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR EXCHANGE WITH SEN. BRACY DAVIS HONDA IS THE NUMBER THREE MAKER OF UTV'S IN THE COUNTRY, MANUFACTURER OF THEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE VERY ALARMING AS IT RELATES TO